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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Short devotion: Boston Bombings - Acts 8:35

Acts 8:35 Then
Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the
good news about Jesus.

On
the day after a terrorist tragedy, it’s very difficult to talk or write about
the good news. All of us were shocked by what we heard and saw on the news
bulletins from Boston. It’s unbelievable to think that someone would
deliberately target men, women, and children in a desperate and wicked attempt
to make their message known. It was a despicable act of cowardice and there is
only one eternal destination for the perpetrators of such a satanic act: hell.

The
good news is that the people of Boston reacted magnificently in the midst of
this painful tragedy. The first responders ran towards the injured without any
fear of being caught up in a second explosion. Marathon runners who were dazed
and shocked were carefully looked after by medics and passers-by. The wounded
and fallen were instantly treated by skilled professionals who have worked all
night long with those who are in a critical condition. And the residents of Boston
– homeowners, apartment dwellers, and store keepers opened up their places to
help anyone who had nowhere to stay or who had to walk for miles in order to
get home.

Today,
churches are open all over the city for people to congregate and pray. Even the
Museum of Art has freely opened its doors so that people may come in to find a
quiet place for contemplation, renewal, and peace. As human beings, we have an
amazing capacity of overcoming this kind of evil through the support, kindness,
and compassion that we bestow upon those who are shocked, saddened, and
sorrowful in the worst of events and times.

Boston
will recover its poise and its passion for life. The people of that great city
have a great sense of what freedom and liberty are all about. They will not
surrender to the terrorists, nor will they give up on their hopes, dreams, and
ambitions. They are good people just like us; the good news is that they will
survive by embracing, healing, and encouraging one another.

Questions for personal reflection

What did I
initially think and feel when I heard the news about these bombings? How can I support
the people of Boston today?

Prayer: O Lord, embrace the good people of
Boston with your love and strength. Be with the first responders who treated
those with serious injuries and those who have been terrified by these
explosions. Be with the families who are anxious about their loved ones and
comfort them in the midst of their fears. Bless the police and investigators,
granting them the ability to know the causes of these explosions quickly and to
act appropriately. O Lord, be with all the Bostonian people. Amen.

John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.